This book takes Sima Guang's second half of life as a clue, deduces the political situation of Song Yingzong and Hezhe Zong, and probes into the historical details such as the battle of Puyi, Wang Anshi's political reform and Sima. Taking people as the classics and taking things as the latitude, it fully shows the struggle and game between Chinese and politicians in the great historical change in the middle Song Dynasty, and points out the potential influence of different choices made by different patterns, talents and personalities on the fate of the empire. There are both in-depth exploration of academic works and superficial reading of popular works.

-About the author-

Zhao Dongmei, a professor and doctoral supervisor of Peking University History Department, was a guest in CCTV's Lecture Room. He has served as a visiting professor in many internationally renowned universities and research institutes, and devoted himself to the research, writing and dissemination of institutional history, political and cultural history and biographies of historical figures in the Song Dynasty. His main works include "Between the Civil and Military: A Study of Military Officers in the Northern Song Dynasty", "Wandering in Martial Arts: Military Movement and Martial Arts in History", "Sima Guang and His Times" and "Past Events Like Smoke"

-The golden sentences in this book-

1. In Sima Guang's eyes, the Song Dynasty was like a decaying original boat. "The boards were glued, the oars were made of mud, the sails were made of rags, and the cables were decayed, but they were painted with colorful patterns and embroidered curtains." Gorgeous can't be gorgeous, shabby can't be broken, and the appearance is seriously out of essence.

The emperor represents the long-term interests of the country, but the emperor is also an ordinary person with secular desires. As an emperor, he can also endanger the country. Therefore, the loyalty of a courtier should not only transcend the factional interests of the bureaucratic group, but also help the emperor overcome the interference of personal feelings on state affairs and achieve "following the Tao and not following the king." This is the way of "great loyalty"

3. "Those who are good at managing money, the people don't give money, and the country uses it sparingly", which is widely used by the country and does not add a little tax to the people. This is Wang Anshi's financial slogan and his secret weapon to impress Zongshen. Speaking of this sentence, Wang Anshi's posture is tall and straight, and there is a confident expression on his face. The whole person is simply radiant. Zong Shen was once again infected and summoned, and unconsciously cast a longing look at Wang Anshi.

Others like to use "ancestors" to restrain the young emperor, but Wang Anshi clearly told Zongshen: "You are the ancestor!" ..... The reigning emperor himself was an ancestor-Zongshen was fascinated by this fresh and bold statement.

5. In his later years, Sima Guang still advocated tolerant politics, hoping that the political atmosphere in the Song Dynasty could return to the Renzong era and restore the political situation of coexistence of pluralism and "agitation of different opinions". However, Sima Xianggong, who firmly believes in tolerant politics, is doomed to be unable to be tolerant. Wang Anshi and Zong Shen dug a grave for tolerant politics, and … he himself will level the earth.